ATS supports national stop-on-red week

Facts and figures about the dangers of running red lights published by ATS during America's national public awareness week on traffic light accidents

August 2-8, 2009 is National Stop on Red Week, created by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to educate the public about the dangers of red-light running and to promote safe driving habits.

To assist in your coverage of this important, week-long campaign, traffic safety and enforcement innovator American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) has produced a video of actual red-light running crashes, captured by its high resolution video cameras.

Facts about the dangers of red-light running:

* In 2007, red-light running led to 154,000 injuries and more than 900 deaths across the United States (source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - IIHS).
* 96 percent of drivers are afraid of being hit by a red-light runner, yet nearly 56 percent of Americans admit to running red lights (Old Dominion University, Virginia).
* Motorists are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red-light running than in other types of crashes (FHWA).
* Occupant injuries occur in 45 percent of red-light running crashes, compared with 30 percent of other crash types (IIHS).
* A nationwide study of fatal crashes at traffic signals estimates that 20 percent of the drivers involved failed to obey the signals (IIHS).
* 40 percent of all crashes are intersection related (FHWA).
* The number of fatal motor vehicle crashes at traffic signals is rising faster nationwide than any other type of fatal crash (FHWA).

Red-light camera programs are a proven law enforcement tool that save lives and make roadways safer. Among the many studies proving the success of red-light cameras, the IIHS states that they reduce violations by 40-50 percent and crashes by 30 percent.